Motor cycle



w.. s. HARLEY ET AL MOTOR CYCLE Original Filea Nov. 1.. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fy/war 5157a;

Oct. '7 1924.

w. s. HARLEY ET AL MOTOR CYCLE Original Filea Nov. I

1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. S. HARLEY ET AL MOTOR CYCLE Original Fileq Nov. 1 19 19 3 Sheets-Sh e6t 5 Zey Patented Get. 7, 1924 FFICE.

WILLIAM s. HARLEY ANDIADAIVI ZISKA, JR, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS To HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR 00., on MILWAUKEE, wIsCoNsIN, A CoRronA- TION OF WISCONSIN.

' Moron CYCLE.

Application filed November 1, 1919; Serial' No. 335,004. Renewed February 27, 1924.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM S. HARLEY and ADAM ZIsKA, Jr. citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and Stateof lVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motor-cycles.

Motor-cycleframes'are usually made of seamless steel tubing which is fitted and brazed to forgings at numerous points in the frame structure. The inherent temper or stiffness of the seamless drawn tubing is dcstroyed or lessened, at-the places where the brazing takes place, and cannot subsequently be restored. Crystallization, due to vibration, begins more readily at these places than in the untreated portion of the tubing, and ,the strength of the frame as a whole is low- I ered to that of these weakened parts.

Also, the changes from tubing to forgings at numerous points throughout the frame, materially detracts from the harmonious and pleasing appearance. 1

This invention 'is designed to overcome ,these defects, and to produce a motor-cycle :of improved characteristics. x One of the objects of this invention is to simplify the construction ofmotor-cycles A further object is to increase the strength of motor-cycles.

A further object is to increase the durability of motor-cycles.

A further object is to prevent the lower ing of original temper and stiffness ofthe metal-of which-the frame is composed.

. A further object is to prevent rapid crystallization of the metal of which the frame is composed.

A further object is to retain all of the original strength of the metal in the finished frame. y Y

, A further object is to increase theoriginal temper. of the metal by the methods employed in forming the frame.

A further object is to eliminate the angular corners and unsightly projections .of motor-cycle frames and to provide a motorcycle frame both harmonious and pleasing: in appearance, and of such proportionsas to adequately carry the stresses impressed thereon.

A further object is to provide a motor 9W1? frame hirl; is somp ed of memb r which are integral throughout their extent from the front fork journal to the rear axle plate. I

The invention contemplates, in its preferred embodiment, complementary channel members which are integral throughout, and

means formed thereon for supporting an" engine and fuel tank.

'An embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying'drawings.

The views of the-drawing are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a view of the motorcycle embodying the invention.

Fig.2 is a plan view of the frame.

Fig. 3 is; a side view. of the frame. v

Fig. 4 is a side view ofthe main members of the frame with all other parts omitted. I I K Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 isa section on the line 6'6 of Fig. 4. j

Fig. 7 is a perspective view' of the brace and seat support; I I

Fig. 8; is a side view of the brace and seat support with the springs for the seat at tached.

Fig. 1 shows comprising-a front fork 1, a front fork. journal 2, a frame 3, and rear axle plates, or supports, 4. The engine and associated mechanism is suspendedffrom" four arms Wl11Cl1 are integral with, and" depend from the main frame. There are two front-arms- 5 and two rear arms1 6; one front and one rear arm being formed from each oft'he main frame members.

Figs. 2 and 3 1 9'? th'eframe, which comprises; a, pair of complementary right and left hand channel members '7 which. are

I riveted at one end,-to the front fork jourtank 8 is carried, which, being bolted to the members 7 and fitting the inner contour of such members, formsan effective W 6 nd spa e The e ossbracin isfurthe; complete motor-cycle, .90

ther secured by means of a bracing and seatsupporting plate 9 whose curved flanges are fitted to the top flanges of the members 7 and riveted thereto. Adjacent the point where the rear fork begins to form, an additional, channel shaped, cross brace 10 is provided and riveted to lugs 11 formed upon the upper and lower flanges of the members 7. Upon the brace 10, lugs 12 are provided to which the rear mud guard is riveted.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views of the frame members 7. The members 7 are tapered and of channel shape with upper and lower inwardly directed flanges 18 and 1 1, respectively, and a central web. The depth of these frame members 7 gradually decreases from the central portion to the front and rear ends, thereby providing greatest strength at the place where the greatest strains occur. Two lugs 5 and '6 extend downwardly from each frame'member 7 and are themselves channel shaped, with their front and rear flanges 15 inwardly directed. The members 5 and 6 are provided with suitable openings 16 for receiving the bolts for attaching the engine and associated parts. A boss 17 isformed on one of the members 7 for receiving the pivot for the gear shift lever.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the front fork journal 2 and rear axle plates attached to the frame members 7. has a hollow wedge shaped, rear portion which accurately fits the inner portion of the members 7 and is riveted thereto at its top, sides, and bottom portion.

The rear axle plates are slotted to receive the rear axle fastenings and are provided with lugs for the attachment thereto of the mud guard, support, and a side car. The forward portion 19 of these plates 4 are channel shaped with upper and lower flanges which taper towards the forward end. These portions are fitted within the channel frame members 7 and are riveted thereto at their side, top, and bottom.

A bracket 20 is attached to each arm 5 and extends forwardly, downwardly, and outwardly. The outwardly extending arms 21 form a support for the foot boards 22 (Fig. 1), being attached thereto by threaded pins 23 which are brazed to the arms 21.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the cross brace and seat support 9. This member has a raised forward portion 24- to which is secured a rearwardly extending seat spring 25. At an intermediate point on the spring a support 26 is provided, which is adapted to be adj ustably secured in a channel 27 formed in the member 9.

The frame dips downwardly fro-m its front end, increases in depth and extends substantially horizontally at its middle portion, and finally bends downwardly on a long radius curve, tapering" graduallyto- The front fork journal wards its rear end. Throughout its extent the frame is free from abrupt changes of configuration, sharp corners, and angular outline. As a whole the frame presents a pleasing, harmonious appearance, and gives the effect of a unitary structure as distinguished from the other types of motorcycles in which each element, of the composite frame, stands out, distinct and separate.

In addition to the good appearance and increased strength secured by this type of frame, such a frame may readily be stamped and formed. It may be blanked out in one press and formed in another, thereby greatly lessening the operations necessary to produce motor-cycleframe, and retaining and, in fact, even enhancing its orig .nal temper, strength, and stiffness by the work ing it receives in forming.

Obviously other structures may be devised which will embody the invention here in set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. A motorcycle comprising a front journal, rear axle supports, a pair of comple m'entary channel members connecting the journal and axle supports, and an engine suspended from and positioned below the channel members.

2. A motorcycle, comprising a front fork journal, rear axle supports, and a frame having complementary channel members extending in unbroken continuity from the front fork journal to the axle supports, the middle of said frame members lying in a substantially horizontal plane with one end extending upwardly at an oblique angle and the other end extending downwardly at an oblique angle.

3. A motorcycle, comprising a front fork journal, rear axle supports, and a frame having complementary channel members extending in unbroken continuity from the front fork journal to the axle supports, a portion of the frame members intermediate the ends thereof being arranged in a substantially horizontal plane, one end thereof extending upwardly towards the front fork and the other end extending downwardly to wards the rear axle.

4. In a motorcycle having a front fork journal and rear axle supports, a compressed steel frame comprising a pair of complementary channel members extending from the front fork to the axle supports, each member being integral throughout its length and having a substantially horizontal portion, an upwardly extending portion at one side of the horizontal portion and a downwardly extending portion at the other side thereof.

5. A motorcycle, comprising a front fork, a rear axle support, a pair ofcomplementary members extending fromthe front-fork to secured to the rearwardly extending portion of the journal and to the rear axle plates,

' and a seat supported solely by the channel members.

8. A motor-cycle comprising a front fork journal, a pair of rear axle plates, a rectangular frame extending from said journal to said plates, said frame comprising two opposed channel members each integral throughout the entire length of the frame, and a fuel tank enclosed entirely Within the channel members.

9. A motor-cycle comprising a front fork journal, rear axle supports, an engine, a frame composed of a pair of opposed channel members each extending from said j ournal to said supports and unbroken through out, and a depending arm formed upon each channel member for supporting said engine.

10. A motor-cycle comprising a front fork journal, rear axle supports, a pressed steel frame composed of a pair of opposed chan nel members extending in unbroken continuity from the front fork journal to the rear axle supports, and a fuel tank enclosed within the channel members.

11. A motor-cycle frame comprising a pair of pressed steel channel members ex tending substantially the entire length of the body of the motor-cycle, each of said channel members being integral throughout .and

comprising upper and lower flanges, an intermediate web, and a pair of downwardly extending arms.

12. A motorcycle frame, comprising a front fork, rear axle supports, a pair of channel members extending in unbroken continuity from the fork to the supports, a fuel tank enclosed within the channel members, and a seat supported by the members.

13. A motorcycle frame, comprising a front fork journal, rear axle supports, a pair of complementary frame members extending between the front fork and axle supports,

the middle of the complementary members I lying in a substantially horizontal plane with one end thereof extending upwardly towards the front fork journal and the other end extendingdownwardly towards the rear axle supports. 7

In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.

WILLIAM S. HARLEY. ADAM ZISKA, JR. 

